The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, has described  the mismanagement of oil, gas and minerals resources  in the country’s extractive sector as a violation of human rights.

Orji stated this in Abuja when he led a delegation of the NEITI Board, Management and a coalition of civil society advocates in Nigeria’s extractive sector on a courtesy visit to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

He noted that the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of extractive revenues can lead to many social vices which results in the violation of the rights of the citizens.

“NEITI considers mismanagement of oil, gas and minerals resources as a violation of human rights. This is manifested in terms of environmental pollution, climate injustice, violation of host communities’ rights, denial of participation in the natural resources management, inequity in benefits sharing, revenue and social infrastructures, and in extreme cases, intimidation, and harassment of civil society advocates,” Orji said.

The Executive Secretary called for a Memorandum of Understanding and the establishment of a technical committee between NEITI and the NHRC to work out modalities for the partnership; and pointed out that under the EITI Standard 2019, it is the duty of the government to protect the rights of its citizens, media and civil society actors that are engaging in the campaign and advocacy for transparency and accountability in the management of our oil, gas, and mining resources.

“This commitment is part of the requirements of the 2019 EITI Standard and Civil Society Protocol which must be followed by all member countries. These rights include freedom of expression; assembly; association and access to public decisions and information in the extractive industries,” he said.

The NEITI boss explained that the protection of civic space is of great concern to NEITI as well as the Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). According to him, “NEITI has therefore identified the NHRC as a sister agency that it can partner with to grant protection to those engaging in the sector.

“We are here to seek collaboration, support and discuss the partnership between our two agencies and put in place mechanisms for the protection of civic space, including the rights of non-state actors that are engaging in the extractive sector”. The NEITI boss reiterated.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Ojukwu, expressed delight at the collaboration between NEITI and the NHRC on relationship management with civil society.

“NEITI is a credible organization and I’m happy to identify with an institution that is at the center of efforts aimed at pushing the frontiers of good governance. I have followed the achievements and impacts of NEITI in the governance of the extractive industry. I believe that the protection of civic space is an initiative we can work together to strengthen,” Ojukwu said.